How To Puck The Hockey Captain

6

Blake

What the hell is wrong with me?

I stormed out of the house, half-blinded by the heat thrumming under my skin. My fingers shook as I pulled out a cigarette, cursing under my breath when the lighter slipped through my fingers. I snatched it up, frustration boiling over, and managed to light it on the third try.

The first drag did little to calm me. The second one wasn’t any better. I exhaled, the smoke clouding the night air, but all it did was blur my thoughts—thoughts that were circling around a single image.

Zoe and Vaughn. Vaughn and Zoe.

I wanted to punch something. Preferably him. My grip tightened on the cigarette, the end crackling as I inhaled too hard, too fast.

Goddamn Vaughn. What the hell had he been thinking? And what had I been thinking, grabbing him like that? It was just a kiss—or a pretend kiss at that—but it was Zoe. My best friend’s little sister.

A f*****g line that was never supposed to be crossed. But now Vaughn was toeing it like it didn’t exist, and I—

I should have let Preston kill him, I thought savagely, exhaling a shaky breath. Preston would’ve done it too. No questions asked. No hesitation. Vaughn would be in the ground right now, and I’d be free from whatever the hell this was—this swirling mix of anger, confusion, and jealousy that made me want to rip my own damn hair out.

But instead, I’d stopped Preston. I’d stepped in, protecting the bastard like it was my job.

Why? Because I didn’t want Zoe upset? Because I didn’t want Vaughn bleeding on her front porch?

Bullshit. Bull-f*****g-s**t. I stopped him because I knew if Preston got to Vaughn first, he’d end up dead. And no matter how much Vaughn irritated me, I wasn’t a killer. I didn’t want to be the reason Zoe looked at me with tears in her eyes, thinking I’d let something like that happen. Or worse—blaming herself for it.

Because she would blame herself. That’s the kind of girl Zoe is. Sweet, caring, and completely oblivious to the way she turns people inside out just by existing. Like a goddamn curse wrapped in a fluffy sweater and nerdy glasses.

I grit my teeth, jaw aching. This isn’t about you, Blake. It’s about keeping things clean. Keeping things easy. Vaughn’s a player, and Zoe—f**k, Zoe’s so far out of his league she might as well be on a different planet.

But the image of them, Zoe looking up at him with that shy, hesitant smile... It did something to me. Twisted something deep and painful in my gut.

You’re being stupid, I told myself, taking another rough drag of the cigarette. The smoke burned like acid in my throat. It’s normal to be protective. She’s practically family.

Except family didn’t make you feel like this. Family didn’t make your blood boil and your hands itch like you were ready to do something reckless and dangerous. Family didn’t—

“You look like s**t,” Vaughn’s voice drawled from somewhere to my right, breaking through my spiraling thoughts.

I turned, my gaze narrowing as I spotted him leaning against the opposite wall, a cigarette already lit between his fingers. His usual cocky grin was in place, but his eyes... something in them flickered when he saw me, a brief moment of uncertainty before he masked it.

“What the f**k are you doing here?” I snapped, the words laced with more venom than I’d intended. I’d come out here to get away from him. From the entire mess inside. But now he was standing there like he had every right to invade my space, like he knew just how much he was getting under my skin.

Vaughn lifted a shoulder, casual as ever. “Needed a smoke. Figured you’d be here.”

“Great,” I muttered, sarcasm dripping off the word. “Next time, figure somewhere else.”

He just chuckled softly, taking a slow drag, his gaze never leaving mine. There was something mocking about it, like he was amused by my reaction. Like he knew.

And that pissed me off even more.

I turned away, staring hard at the garden wall in front of me. I shouldn’t have asked, but the question was already burning on the tip of my tongue. “Do you like her?”

The silence that followed was almost suffocating. I forced myself to keep looking forward, not wanting to see his expression.

“Going straight for the jugular, huh?” Vaughn finally said, voice low. His tone was lighter, almost teasing, but I could feel the weight of his gaze. “Why? You jealous, Blake?”

The cigarette almost crumpled between my fingers. “Shut up,” I growled, but the words lacked bite. Even I could hear it. “It’s just... You know who she is. Who her brother is. If you’re f*****g around, Preston will kill you.”

Or maybe I should just let him.

Vaughn chuckled again, soft and almost contemplative. “Yeah, well... wouldn’t be the first time someone wanted me dead.”

My jaw clenched, and I turned to face him, the anger sparking hot and bright again. “I’m serious, Vaughn. Don’t mess with her.”

“What if I’m not messing?” His gaze was steady, unflinching, and it pissed me off even more. Like he could look at me, see through me, and know I was losing this battle with myself. “What if I said I liked her?”

I froze, heart stuttering in my chest. That small, innocent phrase was like a sucker punch straight to the gut. My mind blanked, all the rage evaporating for a split second, leaving me with nothing but a hollow, aching sensation deep inside.

“What do you want me to say to that?” I ground out, voice hoarse. “That I’d wish you two the best? That I’d be happy for you?”

Vaughn took a slow drag, his lips curving slightly. Not his usual cocky smirk, but something softer. Wistful, almost. “Nah, I didn’t expect that.” He exhaled, the smoke swirling between us. “You’re right, though. Preston would probably try to kill me.”

He said it so casually, like it was nothing. Like he wasn’t talking about getting murdered for even thinking about Zoe that way.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. “Maybe he should,” I muttered, and for a second, I almost meant it.

Vaughn’s gaze sharpened, his eyes narrowing slightly. He straightened, taking a step closer. “What about you, Blake?” His voice was low, almost too quiet. “You want him to kill me?”

The question caught me off guard, a cold shiver running down my spine. What did I want? I swallowed hard, trying to push back the words that wanted to spill out. Yes. No. f**k, I don’t know. I didn’t have an answer. Couldn’t even think of an answer, because the truth—the real, unfiltered truth—was something I wasn’t ready to face.

“I want you to stay away from her,” I bit out, the words harsh, almost savage.

Vaughn’s lips twitched, amusement flickering back into his eyes. “You’re not very good at lying, you know.”

“Just… shut up.” I turned away, tossing my cigarette onto the ground and grinding it under my boot. “Stay the hell away from her, Vaughn. I mean it.”

Without another word, I pushed off the wall and headed back inside, my chest tight, my mind a chaotic swirl of emotions I didn’t know how to handle.

Vaughn’s quiet laughter followed me, low and mocking, chasing me through the darkness.

“Yeah, sure, Blake. Whatever you say.”